Accepting Applications for Various Boards and CommissionsThe Sausalito City Council continues to accept applications from residents who are interested in volunteering their time to serve on some of our Boards and Commissions. Over the next couple of months, Council will be accepting applications, interviewing and filling several positions on the various Boards and Commissions. Below you will see a list of those Boards/Commissions currently being considered:

Arts Commission (establishing a new commission)

Business Advisory Commission (1 immediate vacancy)

Disaster Committee

Planning Commission

Sustainability Commission

Trees and Views Committee

To find out more about each of these boards and commissions, click here and scroll through the list. The application can be found here.

PUBLIC WORKS

City Hall Parking Lot Repaving Project
The City of Sausalito parking lot is currently being repaved, which includes re-grading of the two accessible parking stalls (to bring them in to compliance with the California Building Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act), new pavement markings, new curb ramps and reconstruction of the Bee Street driveway. During this next week, parking lot closures are as follows (weather permitting):

April 2 - 8

Partial Closure

April 9

FULL CLOSURE

April 10

Fully Open

April 11

Fully Open

April 12

FULL CLOSURE

April 13

FULL CLOSURE

April 14

PROJECT COMPLETE

While the parking lot is closed, the City will provide temporary substitute parking off Bee Street and adjacent to the Recreation Department entry for persons with impaired mobility whose vehicles display either valid license plates or a DMV-issued placard identifying a person with a disability.

Weed Eradication Plans
With springtime and weed germination season approaching, the City is proactive about weeds at certain locations where manual weeding is not feasible. The Testa Street fenceline and the area planted with Poplar trees outside the eastern edge of Marinship Park, the boundaries of the running track and baseball infield at MLK Park, and portions of the turf medians along Bridgeway are treated using products approved by the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and Marin County Department of Agriculture for control of weeds. These products are applied in conformance with the label directions and County regulations by City employees who are licensed Pest Control Applicators. The City uses these products only very judiciously. The products used are the same ones that any homeowner may buy and use in California, they are toxic only to the vegetation or weed seeds they are applied to and are toxic to those plants for a relatively short period of time. The City always posts an advisory in advance of its application of these products and only removes the posting when the treated area is dry and it is safe for people (including children) and the animals cared for by people to use the areas treated. As a consequence of their training and licenses for controlling undesirable pests, City staff is very knowledgeable regarding alternatives to weed abatement products and utilizes these products only when the desired maintenance objective cannot feasibly be accomplished any other way with the resources available. The City is always open to discussing and considering alternatives that provide the level of service desired by the community while minimizing potential adverse environmental effects. Please feel free to contact the City’s Department of Public Works Maintenance Division Manager Loren Umbertis (lumbertis@ci.sausalito.ca.us) for more information on this topic.

Springtime is also a wonderful opportunity to follow the City’s lead and perform or encourage your landscape maintenance contractor to perform some pre-weed landscape maintenance to discourage weed growth, compost the green waste produced by landscape maintenance either onsite or using the greencycle service provided by Bay Cities Refuse Service, and tune up the landscape irrigation system to ensure that there are no leaks and that the timers and other controls are set to achieve the 25% reduction in use the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) has requested of all of its customers. As of March 27, 2014, MMWD reports that reservoir levels are at 78% of capacity as compared with a historical average of 91% for this date (see http://marinwater.org/318/Drought-Information). Application of mulch to soils under irrigated landscaping is commonly overlooked by landscape maintenance workers seeking to reduce irrigation water demand (by reducing evaporation from irrigated soils), protect against erosion, and protect against soil compaction that can occur during the winter with rainfall or due to spray irrigation. Learning more from MMWD (http://www.marinwater.org/136/Conservation ) and other resources to conserve water during this period of irrigation water shortage is time well-spent.

LIBRARY

Sausalito People SeriesFriday, April 4th - 7:00 pm inside the LibraryLea Gulino: Tales from the Booth

Lea Gulino has performed on stage in New York and on camera in Los Angeles but it wasn’t until she moved to Sausalito that she discovered the world of Voice Over. Voice acting opportunities in the Bay Area are diverse and Lea has recorded everything from commercial spots to videogames to voice recognition systems. Join us as she divulges secrets from the booth, tests our knowledge of voices we hear every day, and shares how technology allowed her to set up recording sessions with clients all over the world from her wooden boat in Sausalito!

Sausalito resident Terri Thomas has worked as an ecologist for Golden Gate National Recreation Area for the past twenty years and currently serves as the Director of Conservation, Stewardship and Research at the Presidio Trust. Her work ranges from habitat restoration, to safeguarding endangered species, to ensuring that the coyotes that have recently found their way back to the Presidio don’t cause too much trouble. In her talk, Terri will share stories and discuss the challenges facing Bay Area ecosystems. Terri lives on a houseboat on Richardson’s Bay.

Library Speaker Series
Monday, April 14 - 2:00pm in the Council Chambers NEW DATE AND TIMEAll About the Marin Civil Grand Jury (What the heck is it, anyway?)

For those of you who missed the presentation with Beach Kuhl on March 17th, please join us for this very important topic. Application for serving on the Marin Civil Grand Jury deadline has been extended to April 20

You’ve probably heard about Grand Jury reports in the news, but what is a Grand Jury?

For this program, representatives from the Marin Civil Grand Jury will be on hand to explain the Grand Jury system and its benefits. Does the Grand Jury affect public policy? What kinds of issues are investigated? What are the responsibilities and benefits of serving on the Grand Jury?

PARKS AND RECREATION

City Wide Yard Sale - MLK Parking Lot, 610 Coloma Street - Saturday, April 5, 2014 - 9:00am – 2:00pm
Spring is still trying get a kick-jump on things. So in the meantime, we are jumping right into our bi-annual yard sale. The weather will be perfect, so come on down and check out this incredible yard sale - with over 90 sellers in one location. Remember, one man's junk is another man's treasure. Come find your new treasure!

Sausalito Village will feature a presentation by Sausalito optometrist, Dr. Maureen McCoy at Sausalito City Hall, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito, on Wednesday, April 9 at noon. Dr. McCoy will discuss common conditions of the aging eye: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and dry eye. Participants are advised to bring a brown bag lunch. This program is open to the community and free of charge.

Maureen McCoy received her doctorate degree in Optometry from UC Berkeley and a bachelor's degree in Cultural anthropology from UC Santa Barbara. Her education includes a wide range of studies encompassing the following: binocular vision disorders, low vision evaluation, anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry, microbiology, neurology, systemic and ocular pathology detection and pharmacology as well as other associated topics. Dr. McCoy is a member of the California Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, the Sausalito Women's Club and Rotary International.

Environmental Forum of Marin announces a seminar on Transportation and Land Use Growth, Housing and Traffic

Join the Environmental Forum of Marin on Wednesday, April 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at 750 Lindaro Street, San Rafael to hear speakers describe the patterns of our lives in Marin - who we are, where we live, and how we travel about - and how these contribut to climate change. Learn how we can individually, as a neighborhood, and as a larger community respond to this global crisis. Speakers include Linda Jackson, Bob Brown, Ian Gillis, and Cathleen Sullivan.

Seating is limited - ($10 in advance / $15 at the door). Click here to learn more about "Lecture Series 2014" and to register in advance.

The Age Friendly Task Force recently reported to the City Council that the World Health Organization had received Sausaltio as a member into the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities. Now, as a member, Sausalito will be a part of a growing global movement of cities and communities that are striving to better meet the needs of their older residents. To view the presentation before the City Council, click here.

Marin Host Families Sought for Japanese Teenagers this Summer

The Sausalito Sakaide Sister City Program is seeking families from Marin County who are interested in being host families for Japanese teenagers (aged 15 through 17 years), from July 24th through August 3rd, 2014.

This year’s student delegation from the City of Sakaide, Japan, will continue the tradition, now in its 26th year, of a cultural and educational exchange between the Cities of Sausalito and Sakaide. Every alternate summer students from Marin County have travelled to Sakaide, Japan and in the intervening years, students from the City of Sakaide have come to Marin County. During their 10-day stay, students are treated to a wide variety of experiences and activities, teaching them about life in the respective countries and making life-long connections and friends.

Anyone with a spare or shared bedroom can be a host family. Having children of any age in the home is always a plus, though not required. Japanese language skills are not necessary, as the students generally have a basic grasp of English. The primary responsibilities and expectations of a host family are transportation to and from Sausalito’s City Hall each day, provision of breakfast and dinner with the family, participation in the welcome and farewell parties and in the host families’ pot luck, and at least one full family day with the host student that illustrates our bay area family life. In addition, host families can participate in some of the program activities with the delegation should they choose to. If the past is any indicator, students become a part of their host family’s lives forever; both the students and host families cherish the memory of this experience.

For further information and for an application to be a host family, please contact EV Gilbreath at: egilbreath@comcast.net or call her at: 415 332-2282.

SAUSALITO ART FESTIVAL CALLS FOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

For the 13th year, the Sausalito Art Festival Foundation (SAFF) will be granting art scholarships to Bay Area students. A total of $20,000 in scholarship funding will be awarded to a minimum of four students who are graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled in college.

In addition to the supporting documents required (transcripts, proof of enrollment, etc.) candidates will be asked to submit two written essays, including one on “How art has affected my life”. Ann Arnott, SAFF board member who chairs the scholarship committee said: “We’re looking for students with financial need, but also those who are inspired by art and have a vision of what it can do for others.” For applications, eligibility requirements and other details go to www.sausalitoartfestival.org, call 415.332.3555, or email lexi@sausalitoartfestival.org
Applications are due May 16th and will be evaluated by the SAFF Scholarship Committee. Winners will be notified June 6st.

The SAFF Scholarship Program supports the mission of the Sausalito Art Festival Foundation which is to encourage, promote and support the arts within the community. Funding for the scholarships is provided by proceeds from the Art Festival Gala and Silent Auction. Over $150,000 in scholarships has been gifted in the past 13 years and numerous recipients have gone on to have successful careers in art thanks to this valuable educational support.

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM YOUR BOARDS/COMMITTEES AND STAFF

from your Tree Committee:

How to Plant a Tree for a Healthy Start
If you're excited about getting some trees in the ground, here's how to start them off right

• Plant in early spring or early fall to avoid heat stress.
• Dig a hole in good soil that's twice as wide as the root ball's diameter and about 2 inches shallower than the root ball's depth.
• Stake trees unable to stand on their own, setting supports on the trunk as low as possible to keep the trunk upright.
• Create a berm of loose soil around the outer edge of the planting hole to retain and direct water to the root ball. Water consistently until tree is established.
• After planting, mulch to suppress weed growth around the tree. Keep mulch several inches away from the trunk itself to avoid disease problems.

from your Disaster Preparedness Committee

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: HELP EACH OTHER PREPARE
Preparing for and responding to a disaster begins with first preparing yourself and your family. However, there are limits to what an individual or family can do. When a large disaster strikes and the City of Sausalito’s emergency services workers are overwhelmed by calls for service, the first people you will turn to for help will be your neighbors. It is of vital importance that you build good relationships with your neighbors and help each other prepare before a disaster strikes. Here are some hints to help guide you and you neighbors in your preparedness efforts:
1) Introduce yourself and get to know your neighbors individually.
2) Set up a meeting with your neighbors to discuss the importance of working together to prepare for emergencies.
3) Share information with your neighbors such as earthquake preparedness tips and recommended supply lists,
4) Discuss and develop emergency plans with your neighbors for meeting places, methods of communication, and ways to work together in the event of a disaster. Share resource ideas for food storage items, water, first aid kits, and 72-Hour portable emergency kits. If your neighbors are willing to share personal information, collect and distribute a list with your names, addresses, phone numbers and any special needs. If possible, inventory and include on this list the skills and equipment of neighbors that could be useful in an emergency (e.g. those with medical training, those with experience regarding electrical systems, and those who own chain saws, axes, crow bars, ropes, water purifiers etc.).
5) Encourage your neighbors to join you in obtaining emergency training such as CPR, First Aid or Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. You and your neighbors can obtain such training from organizations such as the Red Cross and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District.

The City of Sausalito and the Disaster Preparedness Committee encourages neighbors to work together in order to prepare for disasters. The City of Sausalito’s Emergency Services Manager is available to meet with you and your neighbors to discuss the importance of disaster preparation and give advice during your organizational efforts. We further encourage you to obtain information from the following websites in order to better help you prepare:

Wouldn’t you be more at ease by knowing that you and your neighbors have a shared plan to guide your actions and are familiar with each other’s needs and properties so you can assist each other during times of disasters or emergencies? By working together with your neighbors, you will be able to make your, your families, and your neighborhoods response to a disaster a safer and more organized one.